FreeStyle Libre 3: The Best CGM? | My Experience After 6 Weeks

My honest FreeStyle Libre 3 sensor review after 6 weeks of daily use. Is the smallest external CGM sensor on the market the best?

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Watch next:

0:00 My first 6 weeks with FreeStyle Libre 3
0:38 FreeStyle Libre 3 sensor design and size
3:26 FreeStyle Libre 3 accuracy and calibration
5:51 FreeStyle Libre 3 devices and data transfer (reader vs phone)
9:49 FreeStyle Libre 3 mobile app
12:50 Devices compatible with FreeStyle Libre 3 (iOs vs Android)
13:31 FreeStyle Libre 3 readings on smart watch
14:19 Using multiple phones with FreeStyle Libre 3, sharing glucose data, and following your child
15:44 Alternative sites for FreeStyle Libre 3
16:09 FreeStyle Libre 3 lifetime, extending the sensor
16:28 FreeStyle Libre 3 integration with 3rd party apps and insulin pumps
17:09 FreeStyle Libre 3 price & my overall impression
19:15 FreeStyle Libre 3 availability and future release dates
20:15 How to order FreeStyle Libre 3

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I regularly release videos covering diabetes topics. Let me know if you have any questions or topics you would like me to cover. I really appreciate your input!

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and my videos are not medical advice. What works for me might not work for others. Please consult your medical professional regarding your diabetes treatment. Note that the content of this video was not discussed with or approved by Abbott. I just use and love their products and share my personal experience.

Disclosure: Links in the video description might include affiliate links (I will receive a small provision if you use these links for your purchase). I am not affiliated with Abbott, the manufacturer of the FreeStyle Libre CGM system.

#typeonetalks

[Cinphonia]

Tom, you've been a big help as I got started- at the age of 70, after being a Type 1 for nearly 66 years!- with my first CGM. And I will just say that this 70-year-old loves her iPhone and is thrilled that it can do this wonderful thing for me. It is my hope that my husband won't have to pull me out of hypos anymore in the middle of the night, which is one of the reasons I got it. And also pricking my fingers, well, I have done it long enough! I can't thank you enough for your wonderful explanations and your honest, fair opinions.

[jofawkes]

In the US, and I got a sample from a doctor. Thank you for making this video! You seem very honest and genuine. Abbott should pay you for your great ideas for improvements, i think you are right on point! I am excited to try the 3 now!

[leonardstark]

Tom, I would like to thank you for your openness, honesty and practicality in comparing both the Freestyle and Dexcom systems, it helps me a lot. I'm a senior and NOT as computer literate as I possibly should be but hey, we're not all perfect--but I try. That's where you come in; your concise and down-to-earth explanations make life with this disease much more manageable; it affords me peace of mind. Thank you, young sir and I bid you well. God Bless. Fr. Len, OC

[tkboylan]

The freestyle 3 is terrible. I never should have changed from the 2. I have gone through 4 sensors and it all starts with critically low reading that Abbott says it take 12-24 hours to calibrate. So I lose a half day or whole day of my two weeks right of the get go. After 6 days it says it wasnt reading my sensor and to replace with a new sensor. I called in again and once again I have to get interogatted with a battery of questions?...I replace and the next sensor read low reading so when I put it on at 2 in the morning the low glucose went off. At 430 an alarm went off and said not reading sensor and to replace. It has done this 3 times. The libre 2 is so much more reliable!

[es]

Tom- you are providing insight and sharing real world experience that is undoubtedly highly beneficial to a massive number of people who would otherwise be required to figure out how to acquire the knowledge that you offer us in a way that requires nothing of us beyond simply viewing your content. You do an excellent job with your presentation and we are lucky to have you available to us. Thank you and please keep up the great work.

[Oagization]

Tom, since you mentioned it in your video, you should know that you can go to your iPhone settings, go to notifications, find the libre app, then switch on critical alerts. This will allow the app to ring for alarms regardless if your phone is set to vibrate as you explained. It will bypass the general phone notifications even if a focus mode is on or the phone is on silent.

[louisenicholls]

This is a great video. Thank you so much, I’m looking forward to when it eventually comes to the UK. I’m currently on Libre 2 and I buy stickers off Etsy to make it colourful. It’s great because all these small businesses are run by other type 1 diabetics so feels good to support them.

[twhite]

Your reviews are second to none! I appreciate that you do thorough research on whatever you are reviewing. Many you tubers do not. Keep up the outstanding work my friend.

[vincesteel]

Hey Tom, thanks for the video. I am still using Free Style libre 1 here. In Thailand it's not that easy to get your hands on this bad boy! I have to import it from Hong Kong. But I am glad with it already 😊I hope my brother in law who lives in Sydney will be able to send me the 2 soon 🤞And most importantly I just got my HbA1c result this morning: it dropped from 6.5 in July to 5.4 (my free style libre estimation was 5.1, so quite accurate!) ✌I am so happy! Hard work is paying 👊

[MsCrzycatlady]

I loved your comment about the color and the use of stickers etc. In the summer when I'm wearing sleeveless outfits I use temporary tattoos on my sensor to turn it into a "fashion accessory". I've often thought this would be good for children that have to wear the sensor. A Batman logo etc....

[DigitalCircus]

Love my FL3 and Significantly better than Minimed CGM Sensors that are larger, don't last as long (3 to 7 days), requires recharging (with a Battery that only last 1.5 years), and are significantly more uncomfortable.

Freestyle Libre 3 are perfect size, BLE provided the perfect auto interaction, and yes I agree alarm customization still doesn't exist though we can now adjust to tolerance ranges.

Thanks for the info on Libre Link, that I hope is still available now in 2023. My wife maybe interested in this and help keep tabs on my readings especially if she can adjust the Alarm sounds and notifications.

Keep up the great work.... 😀

[elic.]

I can confirm the Libre 3 I just picked up in the United States, California to be exact; there were no alcohol wipes anymore. luckily I had some alcohol and low lint paper towels to make my own.

[cloud]

Tom, thank you so much for this. I've really been struggling with the size of the lebra 2 and getting it caught but can't wait to try this. I'm so lucky in the UK where u live because the NHS makes everything for type 1 diabetics for free. This means I won't struggle with money and expensives. I love your videos. There entertaining and education 😊

[pameladunlap]

I'm using a freestyle libre (older model) and yes, you can lift with it on! I admit that I was worried my first few times, that it wouldn't stay in place, but I've had zero issues.

[robertnorris]

Great review, I almost exclusively use my smartphone to scan my libre, however with one significant exception... university exams. The lack of a reader that can be used in that circumstance (or similar ones, such as customer facing workplaces where mobile use is discouraged) would be a big problem for me.

[DCARA]

same between Libre 1 & 2, they SHOULD be the same accuracy but they aren't. We find Libre 2 is much more BG levels that go straight up all of a sudden or straight down out of no where.
I am so excited for Libre 3 to monitor my daughter's BG!! So excited!!

[MartyDidier]

Have enjoyed your detailed explanations of both CGM products. I’m probably considered a Type 2 and monitoring food shows to control Diabetes. I’m convinced from what I’ve seen with myself that my problem is “Insulin Resistance”. Have briefly tried a number of things which seemed to cause health problems while controlling Blood Sugar. All of them aren’t being used any longer. BS last time checked was acceptable and prior experimenting showed me what future goals should be. Interest in using a CGM is to learn how life style effects my BS. This isn’t as simple as it sounds because there are other factors involved, some beyond my control that affect Blood Pressure which effects other functions.

However in learning about the Sensors, I’m thinking each sensor includes a tiny battery and memory chip. It’s probably surface mount type technology to give its small size. My thoughts are the 14 days reflects best battery life cycle. To extend beyond 14 days would require RF charging similar to how Apple offers charging. This might require adding hardware to the sensor to be able to charge. But the Memory would need to be reset and some sort of reset function would be required. Disposable 14 day sensors helps pay for sensor development but eventually a resetting sensor might be offered.

There’s a serious warning with linking CGM systems to Wearable Insulin Pumps that everyone needs to be aware of. Concept of course offers automatic control but the entire process currently is flawed. Current Radio Frequency transfer of data is vulnerable to Hacking! Plus ALL Mobile Devices have built-in Hardware/Software Backdoors. It doesn’t matter who they were designed for as top level Hackers are using these backdoors for criminal acts. Ex, if I have a heart RFID Sensor placed under my skin to track heart Data, this would be used to measure effectiveness of DEW attacks. DEW=Direct Energy Weapons. Use of DEWs is more common then thought and responsible for many sudden deaths. Over or under dose of Insulin is very possible through using designed in Backdoors in our Mobile devices. It’s best to stay away from these types of conventions for now.
Marty Didier

[khlewis]

Excellent information. I have followed you since LIBRE 1 CAME ON THE SCENE. i really appreciate your common language and thorough evaluations.

[almostsureimagamer]

im 19 and i prefer the reader because i am clumsie and my phone often gets rendered useless and the reader would be a life saver

[brian]

your video's have helped me to realize it 's possible to live with this and not just give up. not joking you helped so much.